Mokpo Coast Guard, First Arrest of Drug Supplier in Western Jeonnam Region

Simple Drug Use, Sales, and Supply Mediation... Total of 12 Drug Offenders Arrested This Year

Mokpo Maritime Police Station (Chief Kim Hae-cheol) announced on the 18th that they arrested (detained) an illegal foreigner A (in his 30s), the mastermind behind drug supply, after a persistent 18-month investigation.

Since June last year, Mokpo Maritime Police began investigating illegal foreigner A, the drug supplier, and during surveillance and stakeout activities, arrested A on the 6th in Sanjeong-dong, Mokpo City.

A, who was living in hiding and on the run while working as a laborer at construction sites in Gwangju, Daegu, and Siheung, was found with 2.17g of ketamine worth approximately 7.2 million KRW in his bag. Police investigations confirmed that he supplied 200 ecstasy pills to illegal foreigner B (in his 20s), who was arrested for drug trafficking in May last year.

‘Ketamine 2.17g’ found in the bag of illegal immigrant A, the mastermind behind drug supply [Photo by Mokpo Maritime Police Station]

By arresting A, Mokpo Maritime Police achieved the first arrest of a drug supplier targeting the western Jeonnam region, following previous arrests related to simple possession, sale, use, and mediation of drugs.

In response to the recent surge in public anxiety over drug crimes and the government’s declaration of a war on drugs, the Maritime Police established the ‘2023 Special Measures for Foreign Affairs Maritime Drug Response’ in April last year and formed a dedicated foreign drug investigation team.

In February, Mokpo Maritime Police arrested four foreigners living illegally who collectively used amphetamine-type stimulants, known as ‘Yaba,’ at residences of illegal foreigners working at marine farms in the Jeonnam region. In October, they arrested two foreign drug offenders distributing and selling MDMA (commonly known as ‘Ecstasy’) and ketamine to foreign seamen at Vietnamese entertainment establishments in Mokpo. This year, a total of 12 foreign drug offenders were arrested in seven separate operations.

Additionally, Mokpo Maritime Police have strengthened cooperation with related agencies such as Mokpo Customs and Gwangju Immigration Office by conducting joint crackdowns on foreign drug offenders through collaboration in equipment and manpower.

A Mokpo Maritime Police official stated, “As drug crimes become increasingly organized, sophisticated, and specialized, and cases of illegal foreigners in the jurisdiction engaging in drug sales and use rise, we will mobilize all maritime drug crime investigation capabilities and do our utmost to eradicate drug crimes.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.